What’s wrong with working for a living?
That’s what supporters of Geoffrey Owens are asking as they defend the “Cosby Show” actor after a number of media reports, including one from Fox News, showed him now working at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey.
“It made me feel really bad,” the woman who originally spotted him and posted images of him on social media told the U.K.’s Daily Mail. “I was like, ‘Wow, all those years of doing the show and you ended up as a cashier.’”
Many were outraged by the implication that Owens should somehow be ashamed for working a day job.
Owens played the son-in-law of Bill Cosby’s character on the classic sitcom from 1985 to 1992. The 57-year-old is still a working actor, with 41 acting credits, according to Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN, +0.52% IMDB, and teaches acting as well. But a number of actors have pointed out that the vast majority in their profession are not millionaires, and for most, acting is not a full-time job.
I had been a working actor for years. Jobs stopped, as they do. I worked in retail. At a flower shop. I passed out flyers. It’s about the work. Work gives you pride and purpose. Your visibility as an actor never goes away. But the money sure does. #geoffreyowens pic.twitter.com/BBzZaBrGBx
— Pamela Adlon (@pamelaadlon) September 2, 2018
Again, why is this news? When I worked on “Thirtysomething” I was also summarizing depositions to pay my rent. Why are you trying to humiliate this honorable, hardworking actor? Shame on you! #geoffreyowens - many great blessings are coming your way! https://t.co/8tgvW3iixr
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 2, 2018
After 5 years on a tv show I worked as a cashier at HMV, worked the door at nightclubs, was a restaurant hostess and taught ballet to help put myself through school. Got used to hearing "aren't you from Degrassi?" daily. #geoffreyowens https://t.co/tdPa7G6ThP
— Dr Rebecca Haines-Saah (@RebeccaSaah) September 2, 2018
I used to be ashamed that I had to work a second job to support my acting career, wrongly believing it was some sort of failure. Now I see it as an absolute anchor; providing financial stability and a humbling structure within a turbulent industry. Fly the flag #GeoffreyOwens
